Archive for Personal Finance

Ooh la la! The Bullish Case For French Stocks

By The Sizemore Letter The country has a socialist president, one of the most overbearing state sectors of any developed country, some of the highest taxes in the world, and its concept of democratic government seems to require frequent rioting in the streets by its citizens. Vive la France! France…

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Review of Nassim Taleb’s Antifragile

By The Sizemore Letter We all know what “fragile” means.  But what is the opposite of fragile? If you are like me, your instinctive response would be “robust” or perhaps “durable.”  But you would be wrong. Something that is fragile is damaged by an unexpected shock, whereas something that is…

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Investing Outlook for 2013

By The Sizemore Letter There are still a few weeks left in 2012, but focus has already shifted to 2013.  The next year will be a “make or break” one for some of the investment themes we’ve been tracking, but in others it will be more of the status quo….

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The “Christmas Tree Indicator” and More on Straight Talk Money

By The Sizemore Letter Listen to Charles Sizemore discuss the “Christmas Tree Indicator,” the impending fiscal cliff, the Fed’s gameplan and more on Straight Talk Money with Mike Robertson. If you cannot view the attached media player, please click on the following link. The post The “Christmas Tree Indicator” and…

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He’s Back: What Silvio Berlusconi Means For Italy and the Euro Crisis

By The Sizemore Letter Part of me really missed the guy.  There was something naturally endearing about Silvio Berlusconi. Perhaps it was his ability to charm women 50 years his junior or his complete disregard for the conflicts of interest involved with being your country’s national leader and one of…

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Review: Backstage Wall Street

By The Sizemore Letter “No one who is currently working in the investment advisory or asset management business will ever say the things I am about to say,” writes Josh Brown in the opening lines of Backstage Wall Street, his exposé of the Wall Street brokerage machine. Brown may be…

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Review: Backstage Wall Street

By The Sizemore Letter “No one who is currently working in the investment advisory or asset management business will ever say the things I am about to say,” writes Josh Brown in the opening lines of Backstage Wall Street, his exposé of the Wall Street brokerage machine. Brown may be…

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Tobacco Stocks: Watch Your Ash!

By The Sizemore Letter Victory for Big Tobacco investors I like the occasional cigar after a hard week at the office, though I can hardly call myself a connoisseur.  And I’ve always been impressed by experienced smokers who can smoke their cigars down to a perfect ash without it crumbling…

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Japan is a Dead Man Walking

By The Sizemore Letter All subcultures have their rites of passage.  Marine recruits have basic training.  Fraternity boys have hazing.   And macro traders have the Japan short. It seems that you’re not part of the club until you’ve lost money shorting Japan bonds or, more recently, the yen. You’ll do…

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3 Dividend Stocks for Those Who Like to Live Dangerously

By The Sizemore Letter One of my favorite scenes in the classic James Bond spoof Austin Powers is when Powers sits down at the blackjack table occupied by Dr. Evil’s Number 2. (see “Bond Investing.  JAMES Bond Investing.”) Number 2’s cards give him 17…and because he “likes to live dangerously”…

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